Chapter 80

Chapter 80: Artificial Soul 07

August 9th.

After Kui Xin’s morning exercise routine, she went to buy groceries as usual. The traces of the fire and its leftovers were still visible in the market. The shops affected by the fire were already starting to get repairs.

But the noodle shop was still in pieces. The nearby residents, knowing that people had died in the fire, had spontaneously placed several bouquets of flowers at the scorched shop front. Kui Xin noticed that the noodle shop had new “For Sale” notices, including contact information.

The owner of the neighboring shop was an old acquaintance with the family of the noodle shop owner. When Kui Xin inquired about the matter, he said, “That family is left with just one girl. Last night, her aunt and uncle came here, entrusting the shop business to a broker. They want to sell the shop and take her to the provincial capital for treatment. That little girl was in ICU for days and spent tens of thousands of yuan. Her aunt and uncle are at their wit’s end.”

“Has the girl already gone to the provincial capital?” Kui Xin asked. “Is the contact on the notice her aunt’s?”

The owner answered, “When they spoke yesterday, they mentioned leaving today. They were being transferred to another hospital, and the illness couldn’t be delayed. The contact was actually her uncle’s.”

Kui Xin thanked the owner and noted down the contact information, then headed home.

A calm life is always fleeting; time seems to fly by.

Kui Xin sat in Su Rong’s house observing as she completed a test sheet.

Last week, Kui Xin was busy and took the day off on Friday to prepare against Fang Zhi. On August 2nd, Su Rong wasn’t fully back in state when returning to the Second World, ending her lesson early. So, she lacked two days of instruction. Kui Xin made up those missed lessons over the weekend. Su Rong also knew how hard she needed to work. Even though she deeply disliked math, she still put effort into learning.

Writing the math test, Su Rong perspired from head to foot. After fifty minutes, she completed what she could. For the remainder, she remained puzzled and shifted restlessly on her chair with a face red from worry.

“Stop if you can’t continue writing.” Kui Xin said, resigned.

Su Rong put down her pen mournfully, “Help me, this takes ninety minutes for others, while I finished it in fifty…”

She only knew a few questions, so she wrote them quickly. However, she couldn’t guarantee correctness on these.

Kui Xin reviewed the test, and after a while, she expressed satisfaction. “Good, you got forty points right on the paper this time… last time it was twenty-five points, showing progress.”

“But I believe this score included some luck. The test was full of things I know. In reality, I probably wouldn’t do better than twenty-five!” Su Rong lamented more.

“I’m not belittling you. My aim is for your math to reach around seventy-five points in the college entrance examination.” Kui Xin explained. “Considering your zero foundation, scoring higher is unrealistic. Your Chinese and English scores are great; other subjects are decent too. With good performance, your total score can be around four hundred and ninety, enough to ensure admission to a general university. Strive more, increase your score, and secure a better place.”

Su Rong covered her face. “I…I understand now. At least I’m admitted, I’ll be content compared to the arts.”

The session exceeded its regular time, and it was past five by the time Kui Xin covered the errors with Su Rong.

Su Rong ordered tons of takeout for dinner. Kui Xin neither forbade nor considered cooking.

She was well aware of her cooking skills.

School kept her too busy to dwell on food. Whatever she cooked was bearable, but far from delicious. Nutrition was her main concern, taste less so.

If Kui Xin was to cook, Su Rong would definitely struggle.

That night, for the first time, Kui Xin shared a bed with someone else.

Su Rong prepared an extra blanket for Kui Xin, saying delightedly, “Having Xinxin makes me feel safe! It’d be much worse if I had to stay at my aunt’s.”

Su Rong, loved by her family, had never experienced hardship. In her parents’ protection, she could act as she pleased, freely displaying her whimsical sides.

Kui Xin feared solitude and darkness as a child, but her parents were indifferent, unwilling to spend time with her.

“Do you have earplugs and an eye mask? You need them?” Su Rong said. “What if I snore?”

“Nah. I don’t need them, they’re uncomfortable.” Kui Xin replied.

“Fine, bedtime. Past ten,” Su Rong mumbled under the covers, “Early to bed, early to rise, let’s wake up early for studies tomorrow.”

Kui Xin agreed, “Okay.”

To avoid insomnia, Su Rong took some pills and drifted off quickly.

Several minutes later, Kui Xin heard Su Rong grumbling in her sleep.

“Stupid agent… I will not work there… Go away!”

Su Rong kicked off her covers, grunting, then rolled to another side and slept soundly.

…

“Woman of means… Woman of means?”

Kui Xin suddenly heard someone calling her. She opened her eyes and saw a white thing wavering before her vaguely.

Kui Xin instinctively swung a punch at the white thing, then heard a painful wail.

“Why did you hit me again!” Silverface shouted loudly, holding his nose in pain. “My nose almost broke!”

“Silverface?” Kui Xin was shocked and jumped out of bed.

Familiar bedroom, familiar furniture.

She was in the Second World, now in Hei Hai City.

She glanced down at her wristband; it was 07:15, which meant it was morning. She had completed a time travel during her dream and hadn’t been shocked awake because both her bodies were in a sleep state, perfectly aligning.

“You entered my room first,” Kui Xin said. “It was instinctive response.”

Kui Xin had awakened in the morning with a similar experience on the Kraken after experiencing death, as she remembered Silverface had knocked on her door that morning. She reacted naturally, and that experience played out again that moment.

“I knocked and you didn’t answer, so I came in,” Silverface said, cleaning his bloodied nose with a tissue. “Your alarm rang twice already; you need to leave soon or be late.”

“Alright, exit please. I need to change clothes.” Kui Xin rubbed her eyes and yawned.

Seven days in the First World, although filled with many unknown changes, were, overall, peaceful. Kui Xin had no battles and thus felt relaxed and recharged. Awakening, she felt rejuvenated, the best state of mind till then.

Kui Xin dressed, washed, and grabbed bread and milk from the fridge before heading out for early morning public transport.

As she left, she reminded Silverface, “Time to sweep, remember to clean thoroughly, especially the kitchen, and ensure no trace of yours left behind.”

“Got it…” Silverface muttered reluctantly. “I always make sure to collect my shed hair and destroy it.”

The weather was bleak, the city wrapped in murky fog.

Kui Xin sat in the hover tram, gazing at the city center but the skyscrapers were invisible amidst the thick fog.

She checked her communicator and found a message from Augus posted at six in the morning, “Heavy fog with moderate pollution, low visibility. Be sure to wear masks when outdoors.”

Kui Xin: “Ah, no mask.”

Most people on the tram also had no masks, appearing accustomed to the heavy fog.

When she disembarked, there was a distinct chemical odor in the air, a sign of industrial pollutants.

Such pollution, occasionally seen, was somewhat tolerable for Kui Xin.

She walked to the Investigation Bureau’s headquarters at the first-floor glass door which automatically opened.

“Good morning, officer Kui Xin. Welcome back, wishing you a great day.” Augus’s voice echoed live.

“Morning, Augus.” Kui Xin responded casually.

Lan Lan was waiting for the elevator on the first floor. He spotted Kui Xin and greeted, “Morning, you usually come earlier, why late?”

“Dreaming, it happens,” Kui Xin joined him for the elevator ride.

In the elevator, Augus sent today’s work schedule.

Unlike other days, the last detail added for the day read, “Investigation Bureau’s Monthly Summary Meeting from 18:30 to 19:30.”

“Monthly meeting?” Kui Xin pondered.

“Yeah, usually includes employee recognitions, lessons learned, and if anyone died in a mission we observe a moment of silence. Recently, the investigation department’s atmosphere feels odd,” Lan Lan frowned.

“The incident at the port caused quite the stir. Months of investigation yielded no results. Leadership is likely under tremendous pressure; they may blame someone, maybe even hold us accountable from central command,” Kui Xin observed curiously.

Ding, they arrived at their floor.

The duo exited side by side.

Lan Lan whispered, “Of course, leaders might face demotions or penalties. This is a significant slip-up. But something bigger, beyond the port explosion, must’ve occurred.”

Seventh Squad did not board the Kraken, keeping them unaware of its secrets.

Kraken’s sinking had been suppressed. No news, announcements, speeches; not even a small gathering. Everything was tightly sealed.

The twisted society housed many dark and unjust practices. People were used as pawns, treated unjustly by those in power—a universal understanding.

Even so, such injustices were acknowledged but swept under the rug. Cover-ups were the norm. Hiding disgraceful acts deep within served as the remedy.

Viewed through this lens, the Second World had become thoroughly corrupt, deeply poisoned.

“Who will lead the meeting?” Kui Xin asked.

“Assistant Minister,” Lan Lan responded. “Unless he travels, then it’s most likely the Minister’s job. But he’s busy these days, making it probable the Minister is hosting.”

Fortunately, Lin Xinji is away.

Kui Xin wished for him to remain away.

Inside the office, Xu Xueyao and Liu Kangyun arrived, greeted each other, and settled to work at their desks.

As soon as Kui Xin powered up her system, she received a message from Augus.

“Thoughts, Kui Xin?”

It was unexpectedly sending messages at this moment.

Kui Xin raised an eyebrow in surprise.

Surrounded by teammates in the office, she could easily relay Augus’s words to Xu Xueyao.

With awareness of the risk, it still sent the message. Was it a test? Their trust hadn’t reached such heights.

Kui Xin glanced fleetingly at her teammates.

Deep in thought, she replied, “I’ve decided. We can collaborate.”

“It seems you aren’t finished,” Augus said. “Isn’t there a ‘but’ coming next?”

“But, I need help,” Kui Xin continued “Your demands can’t stand alone; our relationship should be mutually beneficial.”